Union Minister and BJP leader Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that the party strongly backed Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s decision to ouster two ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader’s from the cabinet posts. However, at the onset of the 2017 assembly polls, Parrikar added that the “sacking” of the MGP leaders must not be construed as the break-up of alliance between the two parties.

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“We have never broken alliance. It was the MGP leaders who had expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Minister’s performance and made derogatory statements against him. Technically, they should have have resigned going by the laws of trust,” Parrikar said in defence of the incumbent chief minister.

Parrikar said that despite MGP leaders winning only three seats in the 2012 assembly election, BJP had accorded two significant portfolios to its leaders – as a recognition of their coalition support. “Even three months back, at informal talks the MGP leaders were in agreement that our coalition is essential for the welfare of Goa. But the recent MGP leaders’ statement expressing their grievances out to the media is not in the best interest of the coalition government,” Parrikar said.

Parrikar also added that BJP will not give cognisance to statement of ‘dissatisfaction’ made by the MGP leaders. “Be it at state or national level political parties. Dissatisfaction or disagreement are welcome internally, but media statements are unacceptable. If MGP is interested in coalition, they must contact us for one-on-one dialogue or any other direct means. But their statements to the media will not be considered as coalition dialogues,” he said.

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However, treading cautiously in the war of words between CM Parsekar and the MGP President Sudin – Parrikar said although the incident has caused hindrance to the coalition it is not the dead-end. “BJP is open if we receive MGP’s proposal for coalition, however if coalition does not materialise – BJP is prepared to field contestants across all 40 assembly constituencies,” he said.

In the late hours of Monday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar shot a letter to the Governor of Goa Mridula Sinha – recommending sacking of two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leaders – PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and his brother Deepak Dhavalikar (Minister for Factories and Boilers) from the cabinet. The CM’s decision follows – after Parsekar and Sudin since last week took potshot at each other over administrative performance and alliance leadership. The CM’s letter yet to receive consent from the Governor of Goa, Mridula Sinha.